Bag-in-a-box with spout opening



United States Patent [72] Inventor Kurt R. Rahenkamp Bridgewater, NJ. [21] Appl. No. 770,998 [22 Filed Oct. 28, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 29, 1970 [73] Assignee Union Camp Corporation New York, N.Y. a corporation of Virginia [54] BAG-lN-A-BOX WITH SPOUT OPENING 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U5. C1 229/17, 229/14, 229/37 [51 Int. Cl B65d 5/02, 865d 5/58 [50] Field ofSearch 229/17, 37, 14

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,250,249 7/1941 Bergstein 229/14(BW) 2,599,708 6/1952 Gottesman 229/14(BA) 2,493,337 1/1950 Buttery 229/14(BW) FOREIGN PATENTS 859.173 1/1961 Great Britain 229/14B Primary Examiner-David M. Bockenek Almrner-Abraham A. Saffitz ABSTRACT: A container having a liner bag combined with an outer supporting carton, in which the liner bag is made of aligned sheets with an unsealed portion at the top to provide a filling opening. The carton has median fold lines in opposed sides and top flaps hinged thereto. The liner is secured within the carton by an adhesive pattern which secures top corners of the bag to opposite flaps and further secures, by a weak bond, the corner of the unsealed portion to one flap whereby, when the container is in the erected position, the unsealed top portion is pulled apart to present an opening for filling the bag. After filling. the flap is forced down to break the weak bond and align the top edges of the opening for sealing.

INVENTOR KURT R. RAHENKAMP ATTORNEY BAG-lN-A-BOX WITH SPOUT OPENING This invention relates to a collapsible shipping container and, more particularly, to a container wherein a bag is secured within a box, both elements being collapsible and folded flat when empty. 1

This invention incorporates an improvement over the shipping container disclosed and claimed in the copending application, Ser. No. 607,550, now Pat. Nol 3,459,357, filed by W. Egger et al. on Jan. 5, 1967, entitled Bag-In-A-Box. While the container disclosed in the above pending application is efficacious in carrying out the obje'cts of the invention, the container disclosed herein has advantages for certain purposes over the container disclosed in the pending application, particularly with regard to filling and closing the liner bag.

An object of this invention is to provide a liner bag for a container incorporating a spout formation at its top to facilitate the filling of the bag with the desired contents.

Another object is to provide a spouted liner for a collapsible container, which liner is secured to the inner walls of the container by an adhesive pattern which causes the spout opening to open fully for filling when the container is erected from its collapsed condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container having a liner bag secured therein provided with a spoutlike opening for filling purposes. Thereafter, the small opening is easily sealed and the sealed liner bag is enclosed in the container by merely folding and securing the container flaps.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the invention which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: I

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the box blank, showing the folds and adhesive areas;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bag to be inserted in the box;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the top of the container showing the spout of the bag open for filling;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the top ofthe container after the bag has been filled and sealed completely across the top.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a flat, substantially rectangular blank of sheet material, such as corrugated paperboard or the like, of a weight suitable for the type of carton to be constructed.

The blank 10 consists of substantially rectangular side portions ll, l2, l3 and 14, top flaps 15, 16, 17 and 18, and bottom flaps I9, 20, 21, and 22. The top flaps 15, 16, 17 and 18 are attached to side portions ll, l2, l3 and 14, respectively,

. along a longitudinal score line 23. The bottom flaps 19, 20, 21

and 22 are attached to side portions ll, 12, 13 and 14, respectively, along a longitudinal score line 24. The side portions are attached together along score lines 25, 26 and 27 which score lines are normal to and extend between the longitudinal score lines 23 and 24. The normal score lines 25, 26 and 27 and the longitudinal score lines 23 and 24 effectively define the side portions 11, 12,13 and 14. g

The side portion 12 and its adjacent top and bottom flaps 16 and are traversed by normal median fold line 28. Similarly, the side portion 14and its adjacent top and bottom flaps l8 and 22 are traversed by a normal median fold line 29. Extending outwardly from the longitudinal score lines 23 and 24, coaxially with the normal score lines 25, 26 and 27, are slots 30, which separate the top flaps 15, 16, 17 and 18 and the bottom flaps I9, 20, 21 and 22 from each other. An adhesive or stitch flap 31, is secured to side portion 14 along score line 32 for forming the blank into a tube.

In each comer of the side portions 11 and-l3 are adhesive patterns 33. The extent of the adhesive depends upon the size of the container and the nature and density of the packaged contents. Disposed on top flaps l6 and 18 are adhesive patterns 34. Such patterns are adjacent the median fold lines 28 and 29 and can be placed on either side of such lines. Although patterns 34 are shown only on the top flaps, it will be understood that both the top and bottom of the bag can be secured in the same way.

Additional adhesive patterns 35 are disposed somewhat adjacent the outer edge of top flap 16 on each side of median fold line 28 and on each side of pattern 34. While adhesive patterns 33 and 34 are made with adhesive forming a fairly permanent bond between the linerbag and the container, the adhesive on patterns 35 is applied in a small amount or is of the nonpermanent type, thereby forming a weak bond so that it breaks away under a small force. The purpose of breakaway patterns 35 will be explained belowin connection with the liner sealing process.

The purpose of the above described adhesive patterns is to secure the sides of the liner bag to the corresponding sides of the box to prevent shifting of the bag and to permit the bag to conform to the shape of the box when the collapsed container is erected. Such patterns also secure the top of the liner bag to the flaps of the box so that, when the collapsed container is erected with the flap secured to the spout end of the bag in vertical position, the spout opening is pulled fully open for filling the bag. When the said flap and its opposite flap are moved into a horizontal position the weak bond adhesive breaks away and the permanent adhesive on the flaps holds the outer edges of the sides of the bag, thereby closing the spout opening and bringing the unsealed edges of such opening into parallel abutting juxtaposition and in line with the sealed edges of the bag. Therefore, the shape of theadhesive patterns may be varied from those illustrated as long as the above purposes are accomplished. In some cases it may be desirable to secure the bag to the box adhesively along the top edges so that the material being deposited in the bag cannot fall into the space between the bag and the box.

FIG. 2 shows a bag liner or pouch 36 which is capable of being enclosed in the blank 10. The bag 36 can be made from any number of flexible sheet materials which are or can be made impervious to moisture or gases. One such material which is'thin, flexible, impervious and has the additional advantage of hermetically uniting under heat is sold under the name of Pliofilm and is made from a chlorinated rubber compound. This material has a thermoplastic characteristic of being readily sealed by the application of heat and pressure even though the sealed surfaces are wet. Another material which may be satisfactorily used is a thin sheet material having a waterproof coating such as thatsold under the trade name Koroseal." Other materials which are satisfactory are polyethylene film and film made I of copolymers of polyethylene and vinyl acetate. Additionally, any type of flexible material, such as kraft paper which has been coated with a waterproof material or which has a waterproof liner thereon, can be used, i.e. polyethylene, foil and the like. While materials which are impervious to liquids have been described for use in making the bags 36, it will be obvious that the type of material used to make the bag will depend upon the type of substance to be packed therein.

While the style of bag can be any one of many known to those skilled in the art, it is preferred to use the two-sided pouch type as illustrated in FIG. 2. The pouch style bag 36 is formed from a sheet or tube of impervious material which is capable of being readily united by the application of heat and pressure. The flexible material is formed into a bag 36 in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. Such bag may have one or more longitudinal seams or may be formed of a seamless tube. The bag 36 is partially sealed at its top with a closure 37 and has a sealed closure 38 at its bottom. In order to ensure that the bag 36 will fit securely within the carton formed from the blank 10 and be capable of being collapsed "be used. Furthermore, the spot pasting 34 'flap adjacent either side of the median line.

-- poured into the bag 36 and opened in conjunction with the carton after being adhered thereto, the bag 36 may be of a width substantially equal to the distance between the median fold lines 28 and 29 and of a length greater than the combined length of a side portion, top

flap and bottom flap. However, such bag may be gusseted or may be of a width greater than the distance between the median fold lines in which case, longitudinal folds will be made in the bag in the area adjacent such median fold lines when the bag is enclosed within the box tube. Such bag may have another conventional form of bottom other than that shown.

In assembly, the blank is cut and scored and the adhesive patterns 33, 34 and 35 are printed thereon (FIG. 1). The bag 36 (FIG. 2) is placed upon the blank 10 with one side between the median fold lines 28 and 29. The outwardly projecting bottom seam 38 of the bag 36 may be positioned in overlapping engagement with the bottom flaps 20, 21 and 22 between the median fold lines 28 and 29. In this position, the partially open top of the bag 36 extends outwardly beyond the outer edges of the top flaps l6, l7 and 18 between the median fold lines 28 and 29. It should be noted that spout opening 39 is adjacent median fold line 28. The blank 10 is then folded inwardly about median fold lines 28 and 29 and the flap 31 of side portion 14 is secured to side portion 11 to form a tube. The folding of the blank 10 about the median fold lines 28 and 29 causes the side portion 11 and the portions of side portions 12 and 14 which extend outwardly of the median fold lines 28 and 29 to come into overlapping engagement with the bag 36. In this position the bag 36 comes into contact with the adhesive patterns 33, 34 and 35.

Because of the location and configuration of the glue patterns 33, 34 and 35, the bag 36 is effectively held in close engagement with the internal walls of the side portions and top flaps. As illustrated, the corners of the bag 36 are adhesively secured by the patterns 34 and 35 to the top flaps. The infolding of side portions 11 and 12 along median fold line 28 brings t'he adhesive spot 35 on one side of the median fold line in general alignment with the adhesive spot 35 on the other side of the median fold line. The adhesive patterns and placement may be varied without effecting the purpose or operation of l the container, as more fully explained in my copending application. For example, where sifting of the material between the bag and the box is not a factor, spot pasting as illustrated may may be used on a In operation, after the blank 10 is folded as a tube with the bag 36 therein, the median fold lines 28 and 29 are pushed inwardly so that the flat tubular blank 10 forms a quadrilateral container. The bottom of the bag 36 is folded to form a substantially flat base. If the bag has a preformed conventional automatic or self-opening square bottom, such folding will be unnecessary. In this position the bottom flaps and 22 are folded inwardly to a substantially horizontal position, the bottom flaps 21 and 19 are then folded inwardly into a substantially horizontal position overlapping the flaps 20 and 22, with the edges of the opposite flaps abutting. The bottom flaps 19,

120, 21 and 22 are now secured together in any well known 39 is closed by merely pulling the portions of the sides of the bag held by weak bonding adhesive patterns 35 from flap 16.

FIG. 4 shows that when the flaps 16 and 18 are moved to a horizontal position, the top of bag 36 protrudes thereabove and opening 39 is closed along a line generally aligned with the sealed portion 37 along the top. Opening 39 can then be sealed with a conventional heat sealing roller means passed alon the ed es of opening 39.

A ter sea mg the open top end of the bag 36, the end is folded fiat into a horizontal position, the top flaps l6 and 18 are folded inwardly to a substantially horizontal position over the end of the bag, and the top flaps l5 and l7are folded inwardly into overlapping engagement with the top flaps 16 and 18. The top flaps 15, 16, 17 and 18 are secured together by glue, tape or any other fastening means and the box and bag combination is complete for shipment to its ultimate destination. Such combination is a sealed liner bag supported within and protected by a board carton.

It may be desirable to form the closure herein described on only one end of the box so that a cap or other type of closure may be used on the opposite end. In such case the tube for the box will only have flaps on one end. If the flaps are at the top end, the construction of the present invention will provide a means for readily sealing the bag and box as heretofore explained; the bottom can be closed with a cap or other closure. Furthermore the construction of the present invention can be used with only the flaps hinged to the opposite sides having the median fold lines, in which case the othe r'flaps are omitted. In such case the two opposite flaps meet in the center and can be sealed with tape. This closure is not as satisfactory but is adequate for some purposes.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article, and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim:

1. A collapsed shipping container comprising a quadrilateral box wherein each side has a hingedly secured top flap, a median fold line traversing each of two opposed sides of said box and their adjacent top flaps, and a liner bag secured within said box by an adhesive pattern, the top of said bag being partly sealed to provide a top opening at the unsealed portion, the adhesive pattern comprising first adhesive areas securing the said bag to the sides of the box, second adhesive areas securing the top of said bag at corners of the bag to the flaps having the median fold lines, portions of the second adhesive areas being located on each of the flaps having the median fold lines, said portions lying substantially adjacent the median fold line of the flap and between the hinge line and the opposite edge, third adhesive areas securing the corner of the said bag adjacent the opening to the flap adjacent the opening, said third areas having portions located on each side of the median fold line and on each side of the second adhesive area for that flap, said third adhesive areas forming weak bonds between that flap and the said bag, movement of said median fold lines in an inward direction causing said box and bag to set up into tubular form with the third areas causing thensealed portion of the said bag to be spread into a spoutlike opening, and downward movement of the flap secured to the said bag by the weak-bond adhesive separating the said bag from the flap and permitting closure of the opening for sealing.

2. A collapsed shipping container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first adhesive areas comprise spots adjacent the comers of the other opposite sides. 1 

